Rafting Through Life-Are You Ready?

“You won’t believe what happened to him!” my heart skipped a beat when I answered my phone and heard my sister’s voice.

“He fell off the raft!” she exclaimed.

“The raft hit some rocks and it propelled him and others into the river.”

I knew my adventurous nephew went on a white-water rafting trip with a group of friends.

“How bad is it?” I asked.

“Thankfully he only has a few scratches and bruises,” she explained.

“And the guide?” I asked.

“I don’t know if they had one,” she responded.

I couldn’t wait for him to get out of class to ask him about it.

I was curious about the sport, so I found a website called RaftOne and learned, among other things:

Rafting and whitewater rafting is often done on different degrees of rough water.

Safety regulations covering rafting are in place.

Perhaps the most important advice of all is to always listen to your guide.

Listening closely to your instructor can mean the difference between staying in the boat and falling overboard.

I watched a “virtual ride” that elevated my blood pressure, accelerated my heart beat and confirmed I would never do it.

Those riding on the boat had no idea that a huge undercurrent awaited around the next bend in the river. Furthermore, they couldn’t spot the sharp rocks underwater, so they put on their life vests and relied heavily  on the guide and his instructions.

Hmm…Isn’t our life similar white-water rafting?

We have no idea what tomorrow will bring, or what the future holds, but God does.

He invites us to surrender it all to Him, and let Him carry our burdens and direct our steps.

We don’t have to know all the answers or figure out every detail in our life. We just need to trust that our Guide will direct us and protect us, whether in clear days or in the darkest nights. That’s why the Bible encourages us 365 times not to fear. He lovingly reminds us not to worry or be anxious for anything. These promises serve as a life vest that will help us float in case we fall into the raging waters of fear, anxiety, doubt and worry.

“I’m fine; it was a little scary, but very exciting” my nephew said when he recounted his experience.

“Did you have a guide?” I asked, “And did he fall off the raft?”

“Yes, we had a guide,” he confirmed. “and no, he didn’t fall. He was the one who helped me get back on the raft, so I didn’t get hurt.”

What a beautiful picture of God’s mercy and loving-kindness.

Not only does He guide us and protect us, but He also picks us up when we fall and helps us get back on the right path.

I invite you to give it a try. I mean Jesus, not whitewater rafting!

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
³     he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23 (NIV)